Posted on 05/08/2006 1:02:11 PM PDT by marron
Caracas. - Presidential candidate Teodoro Petkoff said today that his government will work “to rebuild the climate of harmony in the country” and will keep those social programs he called “missions”.
Petkoff criticized the “inefficiency” of the government of Venezuelan president Hugo Chávez, and said that he will remain in the presidential race ''to the end'', in an interview broadcast by state TV channel Venezolana de Televisión (VTV).
''I ran (for president) not to withdraw, but rather to confront Hugo Chávez. I hope Hugo Chávez will use his influence to guarantee democratic conditions'' in the upcoming elections December 3, he said.
Petkoff insisted that one measure that would create “confidence” in the electoral results would be “to count all of the paper slips” printed by the automated voting system.
The ex- Planning Minister and current editor of the Caracas newspaper ''Tal Cual'', blamed Chávez for ''a good part of the dangerous climate of division'' in the country and said that under his government you would be able ''to disagree”.
According to Petkoff, ex Venezuelan guerrilla of the sixties, the Chavez government “has an image of being “all powerful” because it ''dominates all other powers in an autocratic manner” but reality shows that his great weakness is “inefficiency”.
This incapability is shown, according to the independent candidate, by the protests of his own officials over promises left unfulfilled, and the high turnover in high government positions, to the point that ''the ministers don’t even have time to find out where the bathroom is''.
Upon being asked about his plans for governing, the leader explained, in broad strokes, that his economic plan would promote investment through clear and stable rules, and a macroeconomic policy in line with the realities of the country.
In the social realm, Petkoff will continue the popular social “missions'', but with some modifications to end “discrimination” and the administrative disorder that, in his view, characterize them.
He will also create a “fund” with part of the income from the oil budget to finance “directly” the needs of “education, health, housing, and food'' for the country’s poor, who represent 60 per cent of the population according to data from the National Statistics Institute (INE).
I'm afraid he may be right. He best not get on any planes, helicopters, cars, be careful fo all he consumes, and start wearing bullet proof suits.
Leftist ex-guerrilla, but would be a step back toward rule of law. He's honest as far as I know.
The problem is that Chavez controls the voting machines and isn't leaving, not even for a Petkoff.
I would imagine at this point that everyone knows that if exit polls show a result opposite from the official ones, they must be prepared to march on the palace and take it. Don't know if Petkoff is up for that or not.
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